(Stock image via Pexels) A study published this month finds most purebred dogs are highly inbred and unhealthy as a result: [G]enetic analysis of 227 breeds found an average inbreeding rate of 25%. That's the equivalent of sharing the same genetic material with a full sibling.[...]"Data from other species, combined with strong breed predispositions to … Continue reading Treats on the Internets

Sharky, dog ID number 11202, described as "dog selective" on the Petfinder page for Horn Lake Animal Shelter (Image: Petfinder) The animal control officer at the Horn Lake Animal Shelter in Mississippi says no dog has been killed for space there in nearly three years. But due to overcrowding, there are plans for the facility … Continue reading Treats on the Internets

Some key takeaways from cat studies presented at a recent pet food forum: Starting at one year of age, cats fed kibble are heavier than those fed canned.Protein digestibility increases in kibble fed cats after one year of age then remains consistent. Protein digestibility in canned fed cats is consistent over the life of the … Continue reading Treats on the Internets

A fascinating piece on how we know animals perceive death, even if only at a basic level, using "playing possum" as an example: This does not mean that opossums themselves necessarily have a concept of death, or that they behave this way with the intention of being mistaken for a corpse. On the contrary, it … Continue reading Treats on the Internets

North Atlantic right whales, a species of just 356 known animals, are on the decline (again) due to climate change: An analysis of data on plankton, oceanic conditions and whale sightings, published Wednesday in the journal Oceanography, showed that the whales abandoned their traditional feeding grounds in the Gulf of Maine in 2010, the same year … Continue reading Treats on the Internets

A Swiss animal welfare organization is suing the Olympic International Committee over the treatment of horses during the equestrian competition in Tokyo. One horse was punched by a coach after refusing to jump, another was bleeding from the nose while being ridden and a third was euthanized after a fall. Midwestern Pet Foods appears to … Continue reading Treats on the Internets

Former Stanford microbiologist and current CEO of pet food company Because Animals, Shannon Falconer wanted a way to feed her dogs and cats meat without harming animals. The company is bringing clean meat to the pet market, including mouse treats for cats: The treats are made with mouse tissue grown from stem cells in a … Continue reading Treats on the Internets

Stock photo of a bat, via Pexels Wind turbines are lethal to bats and birds. And it isn't really known just how lethal: On wind farms, a patchwork of federal, state, and local regulations might govern how companies have to monitor wildlife deaths, but reporting requirements vary widely. This means that reliable data on deaths … Continue reading Treats on the Internets

An article in The Guardian follows six British cats, including the author's, with GPS collars to see where they go when they're not at home. Although the owners expressed concern about the cats' safety and welfare, none changed to keeping their cats strictly indoors after tracking their movements across train tracks, busy streets and other … Continue reading Treats on the Internets